Reports

Thanks to Peter Foulsom for sending in this write-up.

Well the 2007 Mosquito State Titles have been run and won. Bob Wilson was in top form as usual and won 4 of the 5 races run in the cat rigged division with Tim Shepperd and Darryn Kopp in hot pursuit. Mick and Sarah Floyd had a tighter tussle to win the sloop rigged division from Neil Joiner and Brendon Warren-Smith. Congratulations to both skippers and crews.

With Darryn Kopp from Adelaide and Will Booker and Ben Cutmore from Sydney traveling enormous distances to get to the race series it seemed more like a national race event. With 32 Mozzies racing it was truly a sign that there is plenty of strength and depth in the class.

The weekend started with fine sunny weather and mild (light) breezes at Somers Yacht Club. In fact the difference in the wind direction on Westernport Bay was so significant that the wind was 100 degrees different between the start boat and the windward mark. Consequently this led to a substantial delay in race 1 and multiple moves of the start boat and course buoys. The race started approximately an hour later than the scheduled start and with a general recall of the Cat rigged Mozzies the afternoon seemed to just get longer and longer. With a back to back format the second race didn't start until around 4:30 pm and patrol boats were not back on the beach until around 7:00 pm.

The light winds and strong incoming tides created havoc at the windward and leeward marks with many failing to judge the approach angles and having to suffer the humility of performing the required "donuts". In fact Peter Nikitin was reported to have exercised the manoeuvre 3 times in the one race. The afternoon's racing was definitely for those who favour the light winds and were able to search out the zephyrs in the dying breeze.

Saturday evening saw the customary BBQ held at the yacht club and plenty of thirst quenching activity was undertaken during the evening. A big thank you goes to Di and Mick Floyd and Sandra and Philip Warren-Smith for organizing the BBQ meat and feeding the swarms of hungry Mozzie sailors and support teams.

Sunday morning saw grey skies and a fresh and strengthening breeze. I believe we started in 15-20 knots and finished in 20-25 knots. There was less problems with colliding with buoys, however Bob Wilson had an uncustomary encounter with the leeward mark and Rob Lott in trying to avoid a collision ended up with the wing mark firmly planted between both hulls. The wing mark then mysteriously deflated and disappeared beneath the waves. Some quick action by the patrol boats saw the mark replaced with a stick buoy and a patrol boat standing close by and I mean very close by. One enthusiastic competitor was heard to question whether they should go between the flag and the patrol boat but the patrol boat crew were hasty to indicate that this may not be the best course of action [although technically correct as the boat was flying flag M ! - Ed].

Sunday morning's racing also saw Brian and Adam Gristwood on "Risky Business" break both front and rear beams resulting in an immediate abandonment from the race and the remainder of the series. We hope that the damage is quickly repaired and that you are back on the water soon.

Sunday afternoon saw an increase in wind strength with gusts measured in the yacht club at 32 knots. All racing for the afternoon was subsequently and dutifully abandoned. Plenty of tea and coffee were on offer as well as the usual open bar activity. Sunday evening saw the Somers Yacht club kitchen supply a delicious selection of pastas and sauces or lasagne.

Monday morning offered a slight reduction in wind strength however it was still measuring up to 24 knots in the club house. With one race scheduled but having had no racing the previous afternoon, 2 shortened back to back races were scheduled. There was a fair bit of trepidation in the boat yard with the wind whistling through the rigging but once a few sailors had got into cold wetsuits the atmosphere changed from gloom to gleeful anticipation. It could have also been the momentary slight drop in wind strength.

Racing was eventful to say the least. There were a number of capsizes, bows frequently buried to the beams and Greg Plum was washed off his Mozzie at the wing mark only to see it sail away into the distance. There was also a slight misunderstanding of tacking rights between Col McEwan and Neil Joiner resulting in "contact" and retirement of both parties.

Considering the vast fluctuation of conditions seen over the weekend it was great to get 5 races completed. A big thank you must go to Somers Yacht Club and the race management team under OOD Mark Graham for getting the races started, conducted and completed in some truly testing conditions.

P.S. Congratulations to Peter Nikitin sailing "Bee Alert" for winning the Claphanger award for making contact with so many marker buoys and having two OCS results in sequential races. Better luck next year Peter.

Thanks to Discount Seamart for the many gift certificates and prizes that were awarded.